UNDP Jobs - 57638- Re-Advertisement - UN Coordination Specialist

Re-Advertisement - UN Coordination Specialist

Location :

Amman, JORDAN

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

19-Jul-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Regional United Nations Development Group Team for Arab States, Middle East and North Africa (R-UNDG AS/MENA) is composed of 19 members, including the R-UNDG AS/MENA Chair, from the following UN agencies, funds and programmes: UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, WFP, OCHA, OHCHR, UN-Habitat, UN-Women, UNAIDS, WHO, UNESCO, FAO, UNODC, UNIDO, ILO, UNEP, UNHCR, ESCWA, and UNOPS. The R-UNDG AS/MENA is chaired by UNDP Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of Regional Bureau for Arab States, on behalf of the Chair of UNDG, and supported by the R-UNDG AS/MENA Secretariat that is located in New York, USA.

The work of the R-UNDG AS/MENA is guided by the General Assembly’s 2012 quadrennial comprehensive policy review (QCPR) of UN operational activities for development, and the global UNDG’s Strategic Priorities for 2013-2016. Its key objective is to support UN Resident Coordinators (RCs) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) in 18 Arab, Middle Eastern and North African countries, as well as countries with limited UN presence, to strengthen UN positioning through advancing the UN coherence agenda and enhancing strategic programming, resource mobilization, and partnership-building. The ultimate result that the R-UNDG AS/MENA strives to achieve is strengthened, relevant and high quality UN contribution to countries in achieving their Millennium Declaration Goals and MDG-aligned national priorities, and starting 2016 in attaining their nationalized Sustainable Development Goals.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of the R-UNDG AS/MENA and the Senior Regional Coordination Specialist, the assigned UN Regional Coordination Specialist supports the work of the R-UNDG AS/MENA through reinforcement of the capacity of the R-UNDG AS/MENA Secretariat.

The UN Regional Coordination Specialist works in close collaboration with the Head of the R-UNDG Secretariat, R-UNDG members, regional RCOs and UNCTs, UN DOCO staff, and technical advisors and experts ensuring successful and transparent coordination of the R-UNDG activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provides effective support to UNDG Regional Chair, the Regional UNDG, and the UN Country Team and Resident Coordinators focusing on achievement of the following results:

Facilitate alignment and linkages between global (UNDG/DOCO, agencies’ HQs, UN entities), regional (R-UNDG Chair/Team, regional coordination groups) and country (RCs/UNCTs) levels by ensuring fluid communications on newly developed policies and priorities and corporate analysis of regional/sub-regional trends;
Assist the R-UNDG in ensuring the latest UN Reform directives and initiatives are communicated, implemented, monitored and reported including HACT, UNDAF, joint programmes, QCPR implementation, the MDGs, the Post-2015 Development Agenda, DaO Standard Operating Procedures, and other UN reform mandates;
Contribute to the review of UNDG documents and policy papers, and the collection of RC/UNCT feedback, as relevant. Consolidate and aggregate data to facilitate analysis, policy development and information sharing;
Monitor RCs/UNCTs workplanning and reporting for quality assurance and timeliness in adhering to corporate processses, in collaboration with the RC Offices;
Assist in analyzing and supporting RCs/UNCTs’ strategic programming approaches, including preparation and implementation of common country programming processes and products;
Provide technical and quality assurance support to the Peer Support Group (PSG) and R-UNDG Thematic Groups ensuring full participation of the R-UNDG members on common country programming processes, including roadmaps, country analyses, UNDAFs/One Programmes/ISFs/Crisis Plans, implementation and M&E;
Coordinate deployment of regional technical support staff to facilitate inter-agency processes related to provision of substantive and technical inputs into UNCTs’ programme development and implementation.

Ensures preparation, implementation and monitoring of the R-UNDG Annual Work Plan focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Collect and consolidate inputs from the R-UNDG AS/MENA for preparation of the R-UNDG Annual Work Plan and reports preparation;
Monitoring progress towards R-UNDG Annual Work Plan results while working with regional focal points to maintain databases and other monitoring tools which document oversight and support actions;
Assist inter-agency initiatives and regional focal points (task teams, thematic groups, meetings, events), as articulated in the R-UNDG Annual Work Plan, to achieve R-UNDG results;
Contribute to the coordination and successful implementation of the RC/UNCT Performance Appraisal process, by proactively providing technical and logistical support including database maintenance, follow-up and necessary updates;
Monitor and manage the R-UNDG Secretariat’s consultancy contracting, including budget formulation and related administrative processes.

Facilitates knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Ensure continuous information sharing with UN partners and other stakeholders on the work of the R-UNDG;
Dissaminate information to RCs/UNCTs/RCOs, regional staff, and R-UNDG about recent developments and good practices. Facilitate experience sharing among RC Offices by consolidating and disseminating lessons learnt and supporting technical knowledge;
Ensure up-to-date maintainence of the R-UNDG AS/MENA page in the UNDG website, as well as regular update of UNDG databases, filling in the corporate and regional surveys, and other related activities;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
Assist the R-UNDG to organize training needs to sensitize staff to the emerging UN reform priorities in collaboration with UN DOCO and UN Staff College to strengthen inter-agency coordination and spirit towards the principles of harmonization and simplification.

Supports the UNDG Regional Chair and the Head of the R-UNDG Secretariat focusing on achievement of the following results:

Submit appropriate and timely feedback to R-UNDG/RCs/RCOs on key issues of concern ensuring follow-up and reporting on both R-UNDG support and oversight functions;
Prepare the R-UNDG summary notes, communications with R-UNDG/RCs/RCOs and Headquarters (HQ), and drafting of other key documents, organizing R-UNDG and partner meetings and events;
Preparation of speakers notes, talking points, and speeches for meetings/events of the R-UNDG Chair, in close consultation with the Head of R-UNDG Secretariat.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Results-Based Programme Development and Management (For UN Coordination):
Achieving results through programme design and innovative resourcing strategies

Identifies regional needs and strategies using a fact-based approach;
Sets performance standards, monitors progress and intervenes at an early stage to ensure results are in accordance with agreed-upon quality and timeframes and reports on it;
Makes use of a variety of resources based on R-UNDG priorities to achieve results, such as cross-functional teams, secondments and developmental assignments, and collaborative funding approaches;
Oversees and documents the process of strategy formulation for programmes at country level.

Building Strategic Partnerships (For UN Coordination):

Identifying and building partnerships

Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to R-UNDG’s strategic agenda;
Sensitizes UN Partners, donors and other international organizations to the R-UNDG‘s strategic agenda, identifying areas for joint efforts;
Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners.
Effectively attentive to programmatic synergies in inter-agency meetings.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches (For UN Coordination):

Developing new approaches

Seeks a broad range of perspectives in providing support and guidance;
Generates for regional and innovative ideas and effective solutions to problems;
Looks at experience critically, drawing lessons, and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
Documents successes and uses them to project a positive image.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing (For UN Coordination):

Developing tools and mechanisms

Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise (For UNDP and UN Coordination):

In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff;
Continues to seeks new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit;
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDG’s Goals (For UN Coordination):

Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

Performed analysis of development and humanitarian situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Client Orientation:

Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

Anticipates client needs;
Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective.

Core Competencies:

Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
Building support and political acumen;
Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
Building and promoting effective teams;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences or related field.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level, preferably in programme/ project management or coordination in the public or private sector;
Experience and knowledge of UN Reform issues including the QCPR, UNDG, country office operations, UNDAF, joint programming, Delivering as One/ Standard Operating Procedures and other knowledge and skills relevant to the implementation of the UN Reform at country level;
Exceptional organizational and inter-personal skills are a priority.

Language:

Fluency in English is required;
Proficiency in Arabic is an asset.